Ryan Papenhuyzen on cusp of Melbourne Storm extension after gesture from Billy Slater and wife
The 26-year-old has the Melbourne Storm legend and his family to thank.
Ryan Papenhuyzen is reportedly on the cusp of signing a contract extension with the Melbourne Storm - and two people he'll be thanking are Billy Slater and wife Nicole. According to leading NRL reporter Danny Weidler, the fullback's agent Clinton Schifcofske is meeting with Storm officials on Thursday to finalise a new deal for the 26-year-old.
Papenhuyzen is contracted to the Storm until the end of the 2025 season, meaning he would have been free to negotiate with rival NRL clubs come November 1 this year. But a new deal would take him off the market and be a huge reward for Papenhuyzen.
The fullback has endured a nightmare run of injuries over the last two years, shattering his kneecap in 2022 before fracturing his leg twice in the last 12 months. But the injuries haven't brought him down, and he's managed to make a successful return every time.
Billy Slater and wife's mentorship of Ryan Papenhuyzen
His form in 2024 has helped the Storm lead the competition with 15 wins and just four losses heading into Round 23 - and Craig Bellamy's side are a red-hot chance to claim the minor premiership. Papenhuyzen has previously revealed the brilliant gesture from Slater and his wife that helped him stay on track when he was at his lowest point.
The 26-year-old's career appeared to be at a crossroads when he broke his leg at the end of the 2023 season, which came just three weeks after he'd made his return following 12 months on the sidelines with a fractured kneecap. Some suggested the latest injury could have been career-threatening, and Papenhuyzen admitted he battled plenty of mental demons.
But Storm legend Slater - who went through a number of serious injuries himself - reached out to Papenhuyzen and invited him into his family home with wife Nicole. Papenhuyzen is originally from Sydney, but considers the Slaters his second family in Melbourne.
"The Slaters are the closest thing I have to a family down here (in Melbourne). I’m like an older brother to their kids, and I even have my own bedroom now," he said in March. "Going to their farm, it’s an outlet.
“When I first did my ankle last year, I headed out to the farm for a week, and Nic had me on a quadbike with my foot up, feeding the animals. Billy understands what I’m going through. It’s good just to talk. I only hope I can mentor someone like that one day.”
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Ryan Papenhuyzen grateful for Billy Slater and family's gesture
Slater acted as a mentor to Papenhuyzen he first started his NRL career at the Storm. Since retiring, Queensland coach Slater has continued to help Papenhuyzen - on and off the field.
"Billy has been awesome. I am where I am now because of him," Papenhuyzen said last September. "He went through such a long-term injury himself and understands how tough it is, but him and Nicole would invite me over to their place and we would just have a day out where we would not talk about footy.
"He understood the mental side of rehab and how you need to switch off sometimes and enjoy the company of others. I am just really grateful to them. They would invite me out to their farm. We'd go out and have dinner. (Slater's children) Tyla and Jake would chill out and we'd go play some tennis."
